Margrit B. Krewson, the Library's German/Dutch area specialist, received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany during a ceremony at the German Embassy on Nov. 12.
Mrs. Krewson received the award from Ambassador Jürgen Chrobog, who commended her for "strengthening the cultural bonds between Germany and America. "You have done a great deal for the relationship between your native country, Germany, and your new home, the United States."
Since 1987, Mrs. Krewson has received four other foreign awards, from Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
"Thanks to your commitment, it was possible to present four extraordinary exhibitions [relating to German culture] at the Library of Congress in the last four years," the ambassador added. Ambassador Chrobog also cited Mrs. Krewson's efforts in building the German and Dutch collections at the Library and in publishing numerous bibliographies about them. In addition, she has raised funds for many exhibitions and lectures at the Library, including the recent Vienna Lecture series.
These awards signify the important links she has fostered between major cultural institutions in those countries and the collections and programs of the Library of Congress.
